Do antibiotics reduce lymphocytes (white blood cells)?
1 Answer
Sep 20, 2016
Antibiotics by themselves have no effect on lymphocytes but, by reducing infections, they can lower the lymphocyte count.
Explanation:
Lymphocytes are the body's way of fighting infection.
When our bodies come under attack from an infection, they launch a huge army of lymphocytes and other defenders.
We also take antibiotics to fight the infection.
When the antibiotics reduce or cure the infection, the body responds by producing fewer lymphocytes.
Thus, it appears as if the antibiotics are acting on the lymphocytes, even when they aren't.
